National Trust Houses In Shropshire

    We are very lucky to have quite a few National Trust Houses within 50 minutes away.

    Attingham Park is our favourite, with its beautifully decorated mansion and at Christmas time it is decked out with lots of Xmas trees and so magical. The grounds have some lovely walks including a stroll through the deer park.

    Erdigg
    Benthal House
    Tatton Park
    Sunnycroft
    Shugborough
    Dudmaston
    Little Moreton Hall
    Biddulph Grange
    Powys Castle
    Chirk Castle

    Gardens

    Hodnet Hall and Gardens are our favourites and the lakeside walk is wonderful, especially spring or autumn as the trees have the most lovely shades of colour. The tearoom produces tasty food and refreshments.

    Wollerton Gardens  (The country’s most beautiful gardens)
    Bridgemere Garden World
    Dorothy Clive Gardens (Wonderful tearoom)
    Biddulph Grange Gardens
    Oaktree Nurseries
    Austin Roses
    Hadnal Rose Gardens
    Ness Botanic Gardens
    Arley Hall and Gardens

    Shopping

    Whitchurch is 4 miles away and is a  delightful market town and the oldest one in the country, it is internationally renowned for its Joyce clocks dating back to the 1650`s and is known as “The Home Of Clock Towers”
    The town has many eateries including Docket 33 and Etzios which is a superb italian restaurant.
    This lovely town is also home to Alderford Lake which has wild swimming, Kayaking and paddleboarding with a lovely tearoom for refreshments afterwards. Whitchurch is a “Walkers Welcome Town” and has 15 circular walks starting from the town onto the Sandstone Trail and the Shropshire Way, the walks are easy with mostly kissing gates and range from 3-15 miles. The Whitchurch Walking Festival is held every May over 3 days with over 30 walks planned.  Oaks Farm Icecream is a haven for icecream lovers and they make their own unique flavours using only fresh ingredients and served with a friendly smile, stop for a cone whilst on the way to Ellesmere.  Just outside Whitchurch is Bolesworth Castle which host many events and festivals as well as Oulton Park for its car racing and superbikes.

    Nantwich is a 25 minute drive away and is home to beautiful Tudor buildings including Churches Mansions. Take a stroll through time around this lovely town and visit the quant shops and pubs.
    Just outside the town is Reaseheath Mini Zoo and Snugburys Icecream farm which are well worth a visit as well as Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre.

    Chester is only 35 minutes away with its lovely parks and gardens including the Chester Roman Gardens and Chester Zoo with all the beautiful animals.  The spectacular Chester Cathedral is a must see as well as the Grosvenor Museum.

    Shrewsbury town is half an hour away and is well worth a visit.  Plan a  boat ride on the River Severn or visit the new visitor attraction called the Flax Mill.

    Audlem is 10 minutes away and  is a pretty canalside village with tearooms and shops including a very good Indian/pizza take-away.  There are lovely walks along the canal including the Staircase Locks and this can be walked to the boat marina or take a trip on the Audlem Lass which travels from the marina to the village (all donations will be appreciated for the Lifeboat charity) on the way back, stop off at the Shroppy Fly Pub which is on the canal for delicious food.
    Just outside Audlem is Dagfields Craft and Antique Centre with all sorts to see and so grab a bargain and then head to the pie shop to taste their home-made pies and pastys.  The Secret Bunker is a must for the war enthusiast and is perfect to go and visit on a wet day as all underground, the most haunted programme was filmed here and so dont go if you are scared of  ghosts!!
    Bridgemere Garden World and The Dorothy Clive Gardens are perfect places for the budding gardener with beautiful strolls around their gardens.

    Pubs

    The Olde Jack Inn in Calverhall is our local eatery and serves very tasty food with generous portions (farmer portions) and is also dog friendly. There is a footpath walk to this pub from Ightfield which will take you 20 minutes to get there or less than a 5 minutes drive.
    The White Lion at Ash is also local to us and is a community owned pub and has been voted the best pub in the country.  The Lion Dens are a talking point whilst eating in or out.

    Family Attractions

    The Secret Bunker
    JCB Tours
    Dagfields Antique Aporium and pie shop
    RAF Cosford Museum
    Ironbridge and Gorge
    Blist Hill Museums
    Black Country Museum
    The British Ironworks
    Pistyllder WaterFalls and walks
    Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre and Wildlife Park
    Reaseheath Mini Zoo
    Chester Zoo
    Midland Safari
    Shrewsbury Museums including the prison
    Beeston Castle
    Anderton Boat Lift
    Snugburys Icecream
    Blakemere Village
    Blue Planet Aquarium
    Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
    Stretton Watermill
    Ness Botanic Gardens
    Alton Towers
    Lion Salt Works
    Roman Tours
    Llangollen Railway and The Horse shoe Pass
    Severn Valley Railway
    Cheshire farm icecream
    Alderford Lake wild swimming and water activities
    Bewilderwood

    Childrens Attractions

    Alderford Lake  is only 10 minutes away. There is a water playground and paddle boarding on the lake as well as wild swimming.

    Bewilderwood
    Go-Ape   Delemere Forest
    Hoo farm
    Park Hall
    Cheshire Farm Icecream and Outdoor Childrens Activities

    Walking

    We are lucky to be near the Sandstone Trail and the Shropshire Way which has a long-distance path of 190 miles.
    Whitchurch has 12 circular walks ranging from 2.3 to 15-mile walks which have been put into a book by the Whitchurch Walkers and can be purchased from the Civic Centre in Whitchurch.

    Ightfield also has walks from the door which lead to The Olde Jack Inn and The White Lion.

    Brown Moss Nature Reserve is only 10 minutes away and well worth a visit.  There are woodland walks around the lake and also a Chef In The Woods who sells his homemade pies and cakes.

    Audlem has a selection of circular walks which all feature The Shropshire Union Canal and the Weaver Way.

    Hawkestone Follies is a wonderful day out with its grotto and follies.  There are steep steps to be taken at the start of this walk.

    Ellesmere is a lovely town with its two lakes. Numerous walks around the lakes and very scenic.

    Long Mynd is Fantastic walking country with splendid views but it does have some steep ascents.

    Haughmond Forest and Delemere Forest  Beautiful walking amongst the trees and nature and only 30 minutes away.